Occhealth Bulletin
16 July 2009
News Review - July 2009
Category: Reviews
Are you putting your hearing at risk?
Did you know that blocking out everyday noise (eg at home or on the subway) by turning up the volume on your MP3 player can seriously damage your hearing? A recent survey on 2,000 adult Americans and Canadians carried out by Angus Reid Strategies (commissioned by Unitron) has shown that 49% of North Americans put their hearing at risk at least once a week. Sixty-one percent of the respondents said that they hadn’t had their hearing tested within the past five years. The results prompted the authors of the research to believe that there is “alarming disparity between North Americans’ awareness of how they’re damaging their hearing, and their willingness to prevent or assess potential hearing loss”. The survey results were released during Better Hearing and Speech Month.
Also launched, was Unitron’s hearing test application called uHear™ for iPhone™ and iPod touch®. The application allows people to test their hearing using three assessments: Hearing Sensitivity, Speech in Noise and a Questionnaire about common listening situations. iPhone™ and iPod touch® users can carry out the tests at any time and any location. The application also links people, through its ‘locate’ function, to hearing healthcare professionals in order to follow-up their own test results. Unitron, headquartered in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada also states that the net proceeds of the application will go to charities supporting hearing loss awareness and education. Click here to read Unitron’s trade release on the subject.
If you would like to know more about Noise and Hearing Conservation and regulations surrounding these issues at work, take a look at the Examinetics, Inc. Pathfinder resource on the subject.
Avoiding heat stress this summer
The summer brings soaring temperatures and an increased chance of experiencing heat stress and exposure to intense Ultra Violet (UV) light from the sun. This particularly affects those that have outdoor occupations such as agricultural workers. This month, OSHA highlights their resources to help workers stay cool in the heat and provides tips on how to avoid heat stress leading to more serious conditions such as heat stroke. Specifically for employers, the ‘Protecting workers from the effects of heat’ fact sheet explains the symptoms of heat stress and the likely factors that lead to the conditions associated with it. There are also tips on the types of protective clothing that a worker might wear when working in extremes of temperature for prolonged periods of time.
OSHA has also developed a guide called ‘Protecting yourself in the sun’ which explains the dangers associated with intense UV radiation exposure and the measures workers can take to reduce exposure. The ‘Working outdoors in warm climates’ fact sheet also explains the symptoms and conditions to look out for if bitten by insects (or mites such as ticks) infected with bacteria or viruses that can lead to illnesses such as Lyme disease or West Nile virus.
For further news from the world of occupational health, read our news review bulletins from the Examinetics, Inc. website (www.examinetics.com).